The Dreammaker

Tripp lifted one of the heavier crates. “Let’s have a look.”

Inside the kitchen, Charlie waited at the door to Kaitlin’s bedroom.

“That room’s mine, Charlie,” Kaitlin said. “You and your papa will be upstairs.”

They placed the items they carried on the other side of the kitchen, and Kaitlin led the way up the narrow staircase. The room was dirty like the rest of the place, with two windows along the back wall.

Tripp walked around studying the floor, ceiling and corners while Charlie ran to the window and looked out.

“Are we gonna have this room, Papa?”

Kaitlin stood in the center of the room watching Tripp circle around her. “It’s plenty big enough for you both.”

“I like it, Papa.” Charlie bounced on his toes.

“If you don’t want it, you can look at the room downstairs.” Kaitlin pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. Gracious, this man took forever to decide anything. She felt her patience slipping away. “Mr. Callihan, do you like the room, or not?”

Tripp continued to pace. How could a room this dirty, closed up for this long, smell so sweet? His gaze landed on Kaitlin. She was how, of course.

The room that appeared so large only a second ago seemed to shrink around him. Tripp headed for the staircase. “The room’s fine. I’ll get the wagon unloaded.”

“Good idea,” Kaitlin muttered as she followed him down the steps. “I wish I’d thought of that.”

Tripp was already lifting items from the wagon when she reached the back boardwalk. He held up his hand.

“You go inside. I’ll take care of this.”

She reached for another chair. “It will go faster if we work together.”

“No, you might hurt yourself.”

Tripp reached for the chair and his hands brushed hers. He jumped back. God, she was soft.

Kaitlin moved away, carrying the chair. “I’ll be fine.”

But she wasn’t really fine. Kaitlin hurried into the store, her stomach in jitters. What was wrong with her?

She put the chair in the corner and drew in a deep breath. Something about Tripp Callihan put her on edge. At first she’d thought it was only that he was helping her reach her long sought after dream, but now…

Kaitlin squared her shoulders. This wasn’t the time for such thoughts. Too much needed doing.

Outside, standing in the wagon, Tripp focused all his energy and thoughts on his work. But it was so damn hard. Time after time Kaitlin appeared, bending over, stretching, lifting. It just wasn’t right that a woman could smell so sweet and look so pretty while working. How was he supposed to concentrate?

“Hello, neighbor!”

Rafe and Julia Beaumont stepped out the rear entrance of their millinery shop next door, waving.

“Could you use some help?” Rafe asked.

“Sure could.” Tripp leaned against, the bedsprings. “Things slow down at the livery?”

Rafe inclined his head toward the west. “I was down looking at the widow Smith’s mare when I saw -you drive by. Figured you could use some help.”

“That’s a fact.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen him so early in the day in a month of Sundays.” Julia smiled sweetly at her husband and rubbed her palm up his arm.

Rafe blushed and eased away from her. “Let’s get these things unloaded.”

“Papa! Papa!”

Charlie ran out the back door, then slid to a stop when he saw Julia and Rafe.

“What’s wrong, son?”

“Miss Kaitlin has cookies. Can I have one?”

Kaitlin stepped out of the store and smiled at Rafe and Julia. “Thanks for coming by.”

“Please, Papa? Please?” Charlie hopped up and down.

A big smile spread over Julia’s face and she went to Charlie. “Oh, he’s adorable. Look, Rafe, isn’t he sweet? Oh, I can’t wait until we have one of our own.”

Rafe blushed and jumped up into the wagon. “We’ve got work to do.”

Tripp pulled off his hat and wiped his brow with his shirtsleeve. “What kind of cookies are they?”

Kaitlin ground her lips together then replied, “Oatmeal.”

He thought for a moment. “Okay, Charlie, you can have a cookie. But just one. Don’t spoil your supper.”

“I’d like you three to eat with us tonight,” Julia said. “I’ve got chicken in the oven.”

Kaitlin nodded. “Thanks. I think Mr. Callihan is hungry already.”

She gave him a smile and went inside the store. Julia followed her in and looked the place over. “You’ve got your work cut out for you.”

Kaitlin nodded in agreement The kitchen needed a thorough cleaning from top to bottom before anything could be unpacked or a single meal, cooked.

“Let’s get started,” Julia said; picking up a broom.

“But don’t you have work to do in your shop?”

She shrugged. “Nothing that can’t wait.”

Kaitlin smiled. “Thanks.”

“So,” Julia asked as she swept, “you and Tripp are partners?”